Drooling doll



Feb. l5, 1966 A. E. NEUMANN ETAL. 3,234,688

DROOLING DOLL Filed March l, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb- 15 1966 A. E. NEUMANN ETAL 3,234,533

DROOLING DOLL 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March l, 1963 ./blffzzzafs fwn/w? 5 Nfl/MANN 5 9 MARV//vz GLASS United States Patent 3,234,688 DROOLING DOLL Arthur E. Neumann, Winnetka, and Marvin I. Glass, Chicago, Ill., assignors to Marvin Glass & Associates, Chicago, Ill., a partnership Filed Mar. 1, 1963, Ser. No. 262,028 4 Claims. (Cl. 46-135) The present invention relates generally to a doll and, more particularly, to a doll operable for closely imitating a drooling baby.

The popularity of dolls as play things for children seems to be never ending, probably because doll manufacturers constantly strive to produce more realistic dolls. All sorts of expedients are well known in the doll art for simulating the actions of a baby, for example, a simple noisemaker actuated by tilting the doll or squeezing the dolls torso to provide a crying sound. Realistic approximation of a crying infant has generally not been fully achieved, and the present invention is especially concerned with providing such realism, particularly in providing a -drooling action for the doll.

It is, therefore, the primary object of this invention to provide a new and amusing doll.

Another object is to provide a new and amusing doll realistically simulating an infant drooling. A related object is provision of such a doll in which the drooling is associated with a crying action and a change in the dolls expression.

Still another object is provision of a new and amusing doll which simulates crying, and then appears to be pacied as it closes its mouth to the accompaniment of drooling wherein tiny bubbles are emitted from the mouth. A related object is provision of such a doll which drools through a moving mouth, all in a manner closely approximating the action of an infant.

A related object is provision of new and useful mechanism for operating such a doll.

These and other objects are more particularly set forth` in the following detailed description of the selected embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE l is a fragmentary, side view of a doll having a movable mouth shown in a closed position, with parts broken away and in section for clearer illustration;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1, but with the mouth in an open position;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the actuating mechanism for the doll, including a bubble generator assembly and a noisemaker device;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of an air bulb portion of the bubble generator removed from the doll, with parts br-oken away and in section for clearer illustration; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged, vertical sectional view of a container portion of the bubble generator assembly.

The invention is, in brief, directed to a doll operable for simulating a crying infant, and to various features thereof, The doll preferably emits a sound similar to the cry of a baby while drooling through a moving mouth in the manner of an infant crying.

Basically, the doll has a body approximating that of an infant and including a torso 22 and a head 24. Both the head and the torso are formed by a resilient wall 25 including a head part and a torso part. The head and torso are rmly connected in any suitable manner, as by interlocking, complementary portions extending about a neck portion of the doll, as shown in FIGURES l and 2, so as to provide a continuous hermetically sealed hollow body. Arms and legs may be suitably secured to the Wall, and any suitable and desired clothes may be provided on the body.

3,234,688 Patented Feb. l5, 1966 The doll head includes a movable mouth 26 which is normally in a substantially closed, smiling position, as illustrated in FIGURE 1, and is movable in a crying manner between this closed position and an open position, as illustrated in FIGURE 2. Such movement of the mouth is effected by an actuating mechanism 27, shown separately in FIGURE 3, upon squeezing and releasing the torso 22. Means for causing the doll to drool through the mouth 26 is provided in the form of a generator 28, shown separately in FIGURE 5, for producing bubbles which are emitted through the mouth upon actuation of an air bulb 30 which is operated by the actuating mechanism along with movement of the mouth. A noisemaker device 32 is mounted within the body 20 and is operated in response to squeezing and releasing the body.

More particularly, the doll body 20 may be of any suitable material and in order to realistically simulate an infants skin, a flexible resilient plastic material such as PlastisoL well known in the trade, is satisfactory.

The movable mouth 26 includes a cavity 34 (FIGURES l and 2) dened by a wall 36. The cavity opens outwardly of the head between an upper lip 38 and a lower lip 40. Suitable teeth, as 42, may be provided inwardly of the lips, if desired.

The actuating means 27 for operating the movable mouth 26 and the generator assembly 28 is secured in position within the doll body by means of a base part 50 which extends longitudinally of the back of the torso and is firmly secured thereto as by a rivet 51. An actuating arm 52 depends from the base and has an upper end pivoted to an upper portion of the base 50 in any suitable manner, as by the upper end of the arm extending through a slot in the base and held therein by a transverse tab S4 on its upper end.

A lower mouth actuating arm 56 within the doll head has a rear end portion tirrnly mounted on the upper end of the torso back at the connection between the torso and the head. Herein this connection includes a flange 58 formed around the upper portion of the torso, and opposed tabs 60 on the rear end of the lower arm 56 disposed in embracing relation to this llange. The lower arm 56 is inclined from its connection with the torso in an upward and forward direction to a pair of -depending fingers 62 having convex lower ends freely seated on a generally at support portion 64 of the base 50, this support portion extending across the body at the neck. The lower arm 56 is inclined forwardly and downwardly from the fingers 62 and has a front end bent upwardly at a chin engaging portion 66 and terminating in an upright free end 68. The chin engaging portion 66 conforms generally to the conliguration of, and is seated against the inner surface of, a chin 70 of the doll face. The free end 68 of the lower arm 56 is herein bifurcated with a pair of upwardly extending tangs 72 (FIGURE 3) seated against the mouth cavity wall 36 at the lower lip 40.

An upper mouth actuating arm 74 has a pair of opposed, depending ngers 76 embracing opposite side edges of and pivoted to the lower arm S6 forwardly of the lower arm depending finger 62. As may best be seen in FIGURE 3, this pivotal connection is in the forni of a pair of outwardly extending tabs 78 on the lower arm 56 which are received in holes in lower ends of the upper arm depending ngers 76. lImmediately forwardly at the depending nger 76, the upper arm 74 has an upwardly extending nger 79 with a forwardly and upwardly offset tab 80. The tab 80 is secured to the doll head, and more particularly is secured to a mounting portion of the head in the form of a rod 84 extendingvbetween and having opposite ends secured to spaced apart eye sockets 82 provided for receiving suitable eye devices. The tab 80 is received in a slot in the rod 84, as may best be seen in FIGURES l and 2. The upper arm 74 extends forwardly and slightly downwardly from its depending lingers 76 and terminates in a free end which, in the illustrated embodirnent, is forked with a pair of spaced apart depending tangs 88 seated along the mouth cavity wall 36 at the upper lip 38 and an upwardly extending tang 90 seated against the inner surface of the face portion of the wall 25 at a nose portion 92 on the face. Thus, as the front free ends of the upper arm 56 and lower arm 74 move toward and away from each other, the mouth 26 is closed and opened, respectively.

The rear portion 94 of the upper actuating arm 74 is inclined slightly downwardly in a rearward direction from the depending fingers 76 and has an aperture receiving the upper end of an operating link 96. An eye 98 on the upper end of the link 96 is normally seated against the upper surface of the upper arm 74. By pulling the operating link 96 downwardly, the upper arm 74 is caused to move about the pivot provided by the tabs 78 of the lower arm 56 so as to raise the forward end of the upper arm and thereby open the mouth 26. The operating link 96 is inclined downwardly and rearwardly and extends freely through an elongated slot 100 in the support portion 64 of the base 50 and terminates in a hook 102 which is received in an aperture in a connecting link 104. The upper end of connecting link 104 has opposed notches 106 deiining a reduced portion which is retained in an elongated slot 108in the actuating arm 52 near its -upper end, thus pivotally mounting the upper end of the connecting link 104. The lower end of the connecting link 104 is mounted for sliding movement longitudinally of the base 50 by means of a pair of oppositely directed tabs 110 which are received in a pair of generally upright, longitudinally extending slots 112 defined by U-Shaped portions of the base 50 extending inwardly from the body of the base.

Thus, by squeezing the torso 22, the actuating arm 52 is moved from a normal, relaxed position as shown in FIGURE l, toward the base 50, thereby moving the connecting link 104 downwardly along the base 50 and, consequently, moving the -operating link 96 also downwardly. `Upon such downward movement of the operating link l96, the upper arm 74 is pivoted about the lower arm tab 78 to move the forward porti-on of such upper arm upwardly, thus opening the mouth 26, as shown in FIGURE 2. As the operating link 96 thus pivots the upper arm 74 to open the mouth 26, the lower arm 56 also pivots somewhat downwardly, with the lower ends of its depending finger 62 rocking on the base support 64, so that the lower lip 40 moves downwardly slightly from its normal position as the upper lip 38 is moved upwardly.

A leaf spring 120 is positioned between the lower arm 56 and the lupper arm 74 to bias the mouth toward a closed position. More particularly, the spring 120 (FIGURE 3) has a front end with a reduced portion dened by opposed notches 122, this reduced portion extending through an elongated slot 124 along the forward portion of the lower arm 56. An arcuate upper end of the leaf spring 120 slidably engages the rear portion 94 of the upper arm 74, thus urging the mouth to closed position, as shown in FIGURE 1.

Means for simulating a baby drooling is provided in the form of the bubble generator assembly 28, including a container 130 (shown separately in FIGURE 5) for holding a liquid 131, such as a solution of water and soap. The container 130 is firmly secured in any suitable manner to an adjacent one of the lower arm depending legs 62. When mixed with air provided to the container by the air bulb 30 through an air tube 132, the liquid 131 is such as to form bubbles which are emitted through an outlet tube 134 connected between an upper portion of the container 130 and a port in the mouth cavity wall 36. This port is preferably in a side of the cavity wall so that it is relatively inconspicuous when the mouth is open.

Means for operating the bubble generator 28 is provided in the form of the air bulb 30 which has an integral loop 136 (FIGURES 1 4) received on the rear end of the upper arm rear portion 94 for holding the air bulb disposed between the rear portions of the lower arm S6 and upper arm 74. As the rear portion of the upper arm pivots downwardly, upon the described opening of the mouth 26, the air bulb is compressed, as shown in FIGURE 2, thus forcing air into the Icontainer through an inlet tube 138 (FIGURE 5) communicating with the air tube 132 and extending downwardly from a top wall of the container to an adjacent bottom corner thereof, so as to provide for the flow of air upwardly through the liquid. In this latter respect, the container 130 is preferably triangular in vertical cross section, as shown best in FIGURE 5, so as to direct the air emerging from the inlet tube 138 toward the outlet in an upper portion of the container.

As the air flows from the tube 138 and through the liquid 131, Ibubbles emerge from the liquid and pass through the outlet tube 134 and into the mouth cavity 34 from which they are discharged between the lips 33 and 40. As the air bulb 30 expands upon closing of the mouth 26, air is drawn inwardly through an inlet check valve 140 (FIGURE 4) in the end of the air bulb 30 opposite the air tube 132, and asthe air bulb 30 is compressed the check valve V140 closes and outlet check valve 142 between the air tube 132 and the bulb 130 opens for the passage of air into the container 130. The outlet check valve 142 prevents the liquid 131 from being drawn into the expanding bulb. In charging the container 130, the liquid 131 may be poured into the mouth cavity 34 and ows through the port in the side of the cavity wall 36 and through outlet tube 134 into the container. In order to minimize or prevent the spillage of liquid from the container 130 when the doll is in a reclining position, the container 130 is positioned below the mouth cavity 34 so that the liquid does not gravitate toward the mouth in either the erect'or reclining positions of the doll.

The previously mentioned noisemaker means, which is in the form of lt-he whistle or reed device 32 for simulating the cry of a baby, is within the head 24 and is mounted in a rear portion of Ithe head. The noisemaker is oper- `aible in response to squeezing the dolls body, which causes a discharge of air I'through the noisemaker.

To summarize operation of the doll, as a child squeezes Ithe torso r2.2, the arm 52 is moved toward the base 50, thus moving the operating rod 96 downwardly and pivoting the forward end orf the upper arm 74 upwardly Iand the rfonward end of the lower arm 56 downwardly so -as to open the mouth 26. Simultaneously therewith, the air bulb 30 is compressed land bubbles are emitted from the bubble container 1130 into the mouth cavity 34 from which they escape between the lips 38 and 40. Also simultaneously with opening of the mouth, ai-r pressure builds up within lthe body 20 and a portion escapes through the nosemaker 32 toprowide a crying sound for the doll.

While Ithis invention has been described with reference to certain features, structure and material in a particular environment, it will be apparent that |various modications might be made without departing from .the principles of lthis invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A drooling doll comprising, a doll body having a movable mouth, actuating means manually operable and including members movable relative lto each other for mov-ing said mouth, and drool simulating means operated in response to operation of said mouth actuating means for emitting a liquid through said mouth and including a bubble vgenerator, said generator including a container having an air inlet and a bubble outlet, bafHe means in said container providing a path for directing substantially all air Ifrom said air inlet through the liquid before passing to said bubble outlet, said container being disposed below the level of said mouth when the doll is in either an erect or a reclining posi-tion and said baffle means being disposed with said container so as to prevent the passage of the liquid by gravity from said container through said air inlet `and bubble outlet as said container is tilted to various positions, and an ai-r :bulb connected with said air inlet and positioned in clamping relationship lbetvveen said members and openated by said relative movement of said members |for rforcing -air through said air inlet.

2. A doll comprising, a doll body hav-ing a head and torso, `said head having a mouth movable between open Iand closed positions in a manner simulating a baby crying, said mouth being defined by an inwardly extending cavity fwall, drooling means in said body operable for simulating an infant drooling from said mouth, and actuating means in said body Vfor moving said mouth between said positions and concurrently operating said drooling means responsive to squeezing .and releasing said torso, said mouth actuating means including a -pair of arms pivotally joined intermediate their ends for movement toward and away from each other, one end of said arms receiving said cavity wall therebetween and having portions spaced from the pivotal connection and seated against opposite portions of said cavity wall for moving said mouth, :and the other end of said arms having portions spaced apart a substantial distance within said to-rso when said mouth is in one of said positions and pivotable toward each other for moving said mouth to the other of said positions, an `air bulb disposed between said end-s of the arms and connected with said drooling means to provide air pressure thereto, said air bulb including an air inlet communicating with the interior of the doll body, whereby said movement of said other ends of the arms is effective to provide air .to said drooling means.

3. A doll comprising a hollow doll body having a wall delining a head and torso, said head having a mouth movable in a crying manner between a'n open crying position and a closed smiling position, said mouth being dened by opposed ips and a cavity wall extending inwardly from said lips, drooling means in said body operable for simulating an infant drooling tfrom said mouth and including an air bulb and a container `for a bubble forming liquid 'which are cooperable to provide yfor emission of bubbles into said cavity, actuating means [for moving said mouth between said positions and for concurrently operating said drooling means responsive to squeezing and releasing said torso, said actua-ting means including a pair of arms pivotally interconnected intermediate their ends -for movement toward and away from each other, one end of said arms receiving said cavity wall therebetween and having portions spaced from the pivotal connection and seated against said cavity Iwall in position for moving said mouth, and the other ends of said arms extending rearlwardly in the doll body from said pivotal connection and receiving said air bulb therebetween, and spring means disposed to bias said mouth toward its closed position, |whereby said bulb is compressed upon movement of said levers to close s-aid levers to open said mouth.

4. A drooling doll :comprising a dol-l body having a movable mouth, actuating means manually operable and including members movable relative to each other for moving said mouth, and drool simulating means comprising -a container for holding -a liquid which, in cooperation with air, produces bubbles, said container having an air inlet and a bubble outlet, guiding means providing a path for directing air from said yair inlet through the liquid to said bubble outlet, and means ior supplying air t-o said air inlet.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,004,660 10/'1911 Klotz 40-106.32 X 2,032,192 2/1936 Wheeler 1 Li0-106-23 X 2,661,572 12/1953 Baggott 46118 X 2,732,658 1/1956 Goldfanb 46-116 2,912,790 11/ 1959 Weeber 46-8 2,931,136 4/1960 Lofwey 46-135 3,090,156 5/1963 Scopalino 46-118 3,093,925 6/ 1963 Greene 46--118 FOREIGN PATENTS 143,730 10/1951 Australia.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. 

4. A DROOLING DOLL COMPRISING A DOLL BODY HAVING A MOVABLE MOUTH, ACTUATING MEANS MANUALLY OPERABLE AND INCLUDING MEMBERS MOVABLE RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER FOR MOVING SAID MOUTH, AND DROOL SIMULATING MEANS COMPRISING A CONTAINER FOR HOLDING A LIQUID WHICH, IN COOPERATION WITH AIR, PRODUCES BUBBLES, SAID CONTAINER HAVING AN AIR INLET AND A BUBBLE OUTLET, GUIDING MEANS PROVIDING A 